Cherries And Cherry Juice

Cherries

Cherry trees were first brought to this country in 1600 by the early settlers. By the mid-1800s, commercial production began in the Northwest region of the United States and still today approximately 70% of the cherries produced in this country come from this area. Cherries come in two main varieties, sweet and sour. Of the two, sour cherries are lower in calories and higher in vitamin C and beta carotene. Cherries are used in cooking and baking, and more recently scientists have unveiled the usefulness of cherries in maintaining good health.

Cherry Juice

Depending upon the type of cherry, the juice can be sweet or tart but always delicious. Generally used in cooking and as a refreshing drink, cherry juice is more popular than ever before because of the associated health benefits. Cherry juice contains Vitamin C and is a great source of potassium. Scientists discovered that one glass of cherry juice gives the health benefit of 23 portions of fruits and vegetables. Research shows that drinking cherry juice daily has a dramatic effect in the reduction of pain caused by inflammation and gout.

Health Benefits If Cherry Juice

What can drinking cherry juice do for you? The quick answer is cherry juice fights and prevents diseases. It has been shown that cherry juice is 10 times more effective than aspirin for arthritis pain and inflammation. It contains antioxidants which reduce damage done by free radical substances to the body’s cells that could cause heart attacks and chronic diseases. Studies show that cherry juice helps prevent certain cancers by stunting the growth of these types of cells and flushing cancer-causing substances from the body. And, drinking cherry juice creates better blood flow to the brain and lowers blood pressure. A glass of cherry juice gives the benefit of several prescription medicines without the side related effects.

Making Your Own Cherry Syrup / Juice

The best cherries are firm with a shiny skin and strong stem. They have a short growing season, usually June through August. Cherry juice can be combined with many other fruit juices to create exceptional thirst quenching drinks.

Making your own juice is not that hard, it just takes a bit of time. Here Is a quick cherry juice recipe:

1. Wash and pit 1 lb. cherries.
2. Combine the cherries and 2 lbs. sugar in a large saucepan.
3. Cover and let sit at room temperature for two hours to allow cherries to absorb the sweetness.
4. Add ½ pint water. Mix until the sugar is dissolved.
5. Bring the mixture to a boil. After simmering for 15 minutes, strain the liquid part of the mixture into another saucepan.
6. Discard cherries. As the liquid continues to simmer, it will thicken. Continue to boil it until it’s the consistency of maple syrup.
7. Remove pan from stove and let it cool. Then, transfer it to a sealed container and refrigerate.
8. This syrup is the base of your cherry juice. The final product is formed from a spoonful or two in a glass of sparkling water.

For more info on cherries and cherry juice check these articles:

• Best Cherries For Cherry Juice And How To Choose Them Cherries have soft flesh that's both sweet and tart, making it great for juicing. The pits can pose a challenge to some juicers, however. Be sure that your machine can tolerate pitted fruits before attempting to juice your cherries. Also be sure to remove...
• Cherry Juice Side Effects - Can You Drink Too Much Of It? As a beverage that has recently increased in popularity, cherry juice has drawn the attention of many consumers due to its potential health benefits. While cherry juice may be a healthy addition to the average diet, consumption of cherry juice may not be ...
• Cherry (sweet) Nutrition Facts Cherry (sweet) Nutrition FactsBetaine 0 mg Calcium 13 mg Calories 63 Calories Carbohydrate 16 g Carotene-a 0 mcg Carotene-ß 38 mcg Choline 6,1 mg Copper 0,1 mg Dietary Fiber 2 g Fluoride 2 mcg Folate 4 mcg Iron 1,1 mg Lutein-zeaxanthin 85 ...
• Health Benefits of Cherry Juice: The Top 4 Benefits You'll Receive By Drinking Cherry Juice Are the health benefits of cherry juice as strong as of some other juices that you can get on the marker? I am sure you've heard of the numerous benefits of drinking "magical" juices that are all the rage nowadays.  Many companies start up every month try...